Electric switch



Aug. 4, 1931. B. M. LEECE ELECTRIGISWITGH Filed Ju1y`1'-7, 1926 2Sheets-Sheet l @I lll/11.111111 lll/ll /l/l Aug. 4, 1931. B. M, LEECEELECTRIC SWITCH Filed July 17, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm MM# w@VV`Patented Aug. 4, l*1931 'UNITED STA BENNETT u. LEEcE', or cLEVELAND,01110', assleNon To THE LEEcENEvILLE -coia- EANY, 0F( CLEVELAND, omo, ACORPORATION 0F omo ELECTRIC SWITCH- Application tiled July 17,

This invention relates to a remote con-v trolled or electricallyoperated switch and has for its main object to provide a construc Moreparticularly in this connection,I it is the object toprovide asimple-but effectivemeans for Iturning the movable contact or' contactswith respect to the stationary contacts as the switch is operated, sothat, different portions ofthe' movable contact or contacts will engagethe stationary contactsy and thus prevent, or atleast, minimize thelikelihood of the contacts being burned, as. .would be the case if thesame portions of the contacts were always'engaged.

Theabove and other ob 'ects are attained by my invention which may ehere briefly summarized as consisting in certain novel details ofconstruction and Acombinations and arrangements of parts which will bedescribed in the specification and set forth in the appended claims.

. In the accompanying sheet of drawings showing the preferredconstruction, Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the switch;Fig. 2 is aside elevation with the front wall of the casing removed,parts being in section; Fig. 3 is aside view of the same; Fig; 4 ispartly a bottom view and partly a sectionalview with the section takensubstantially along the-line`4-4 ofFig. 2; and Fi 5 is a View Similar toFig. 2 showing 4the switch closed. t v

The operating portions of the switch are enclosedin a casing, the topand side walls of which are inthis instance formed of a U-shapedstamping 10 which is preferably formed of a magnetic material, inasmuchasv portions of the stamping 10 form a part of the magnetic circuit.vThe back walland botn tom of thecasing are preferably formed of astamping 11 of magnetic material and the front wall by a removable plate12 of lsimilar material. f

Extending transversely 4across the interior 1926. Serial No. 123,055.

of' the casing4 is a horizontal partition 13l .y

which en agesthe sides of the stamping 10 and also orms'a part of themagnetic circuit around the magnet. In the uppercompartf ment of thecasing is a magnet. in the form of a solenoid havinga coil 14,theterminals of which are connected to binding'posts 15extending'through the sides of the casing and vto which `conductors maybe connected to supply current forenergizing'lthe coil.

Inside the coil is a short st Itionary core 16 which is secured to thetop of stamping 10 and a movable core .or plunger 17:` which ispreferably cylindrical in form and is adapted to exltend through anopening in the partiion In thelower compartment of the casing aretwostationary contactsflS which are secured by screws 19to but insulatedfrom the lower side of the partition 313. These contacts which arepreferably in the form of substantially U-shaped stampings of igoodconducting material such as copper, extend down along the sides ofthe'casing and inwardly for a distance alongthe bottom, being wellinsulated from these portions ofthe casing. Rather heavy connectorscrews 19 extend through the bottom of the casing'and'are connected tothe lower portions'of the contacts 18. The cables of the circuit to beopened and closed by the switch are adapted to be connected-to thesescrews 19 which are' in Jlis instance provided with cable terminals `Inthis instance two movable contacts are '85 employed,the main Contactbeing a cup` i shaped member 21 of good conducting materialsuch asphospher-bronze, and theother contact, which is an auxilary or arcingcontact, being a disc 22 of carbon or other suitable material ofrelatively high resistance and relatively; refractory. The disc 22 isadapted to move into the depression of the cup-shaped contact 21 but isnormally held 23 arranged in elevated 'position by a spring Abetween thelower side of the carbonl disc and the bottom of the cup-shaped contact21 there being preferably provided on the lowerside of the carbon disc,``a disc 24,of conducting These two contact members are adapted to bemoved by the core or plunger 17, and

A for that purpose they are supported in the relationship shown andexplained on a pin 25 depending from the lower side of the core andsuitably held or attached thereto at its upper end. The main Contact 21is held from movement endwise of the pin but the carbon disc may movealong the pin toward or from the main contactas the switch is opened orclosed, the carbon disc having a bearing on the pin consisting of a pairof bushings 26, the inner of which `is' preferably of metal, and theother of insulating material such as bakelite. The upper ends of thesebushings bear against an insulating disc 27 which separates the disc 22from the core 17, andthe lower ends of the bushings bear against thebottom of the contact 21.

The lower end of the pin 25 slides in the socket ofa guide-28 secured inthe bottom wall of the casing, this portion of the pin'being surroundedby a bushing 29 of hard fibre or other insulating material, the upperend of which bears against a metal washer 80 pressed against aninsulating discv l31 secured to the lower side of the contact 271, whilethe bottom end of the pin is peened over against the bottom of-bushing29 so as toholdthew core 17, contacts, discs and bushings in assembledrelationship.` y j Normally the switch is mounted with the aXis of thesolenoid vertical, as illustrated in and its upperen Fig. 1, the backwall of the casing being providedjwith ears 32 by which the switch maybe secured to a suitable support. However, it is not'necessary that theswitch besupported lin the position just stated, .but it is preferablethat it be so mounted or'su'pported since in that case gravity assistsin the opening movement.

In the event that the switch is mounted in a position other than one inwhich the axis of the solenoid is vertical, or substantially so,

I have provided in a central socket of the core, a spring 33, the lowerend of which is shown as engagin the upper end of pin 25 engaging the.lower end of an adjustable screw 34 which-'is extended through the'topof stamping 10 and through the stationary corel, its lower endat alltimes projecting into the socket of the core. This spring will move thecore to open posiltion in the event that it is not so mountedthat'gravity performs this function. When the switch is so mounted thatthecore has a' i vertical movement or substantially vertical j the coilis energized the core is elevated and drawn intothe coil. rThis firstbrings the disc 22 into lengagement with the Stationary cony securintacts v18and before Vthe movement of the core is completed, the contact21 engages the contacts 18, the contact disc 22 then moving into the cupor depression of the main Contact, compressing spring 23.

lVhen the coil 14 is (le-energized the switch is opened with the quickbreak, principally by the action of the spring 23 but supplemented bythe spring 33 and by gravity acting on the core and movable contacts(assuming that the switch is mounted so that gravity can betaken'vadvantage of in the opening movement). When the switch is thusopened the main contact 21 iist leaves the stationary contacts 18followed by the movement of the auxiliary or arcing contact away 'fromthe contacts 18 so that whatever arc is established is taken largely bycontact 22.

To give long life to the contacts, arrange-n ment is made for turningthe contacts-21 and 22 whenever thes'witch is operated -so.as toconstantly bring different surface portions. thereof in position toengage the contacts 18, and thisvis accomplished in a very inexpensive,simple but highly efficient manner by on the inner surface of the bottomwall fo lthe casing a leaf spring 35 having at its free end anupstanding tongue which, when the switch is open, engages the lower sideof the insulating disc 31. securedto the bottom of the main contact 21.The arrangement is such that as the contacts move down- `wardly on thede-energization'of coil 14, the

spring35 is depressed and therefore imparts .c

elevated. `O ,n theopenin l movement as the l movable contacts drop, t einsulatin disc, gt the bottom-of contact 21, engages t e upstanding endof spring 35 when the latter is in the position A, shown in Fig. 5. Asthe contacts approach the dotted'l line sition,l shown-in this figure,the upper en of the spring 35`y swings through an arc until it reachesdotted line position B. This rotates the contacts in the directionindicated by the arrow in Fig. 5, a distance equal substantially to thelateral displacement of the end of 'theQsprin in movipg from position Ato position B. whenever the switch is operated, gives the contacts a steby step rotation sothat the results and avantages stated above, areattained. r While I have shown the preferredconstruction, I do notdesire to be confined to the be'modified in many particulars, such as inthe method of mounting or supporting the his action which takes'place YLeim/ss parta-but aim in my claims to cover all modications which do notinvolve a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as dcncdin the claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: v

1. In an electric switch, a .'pair of stationary contactsi a solenoidhaving a core and carryinga bri( ging contact mechanism includlo lng twoannular' rotatable contacts, both ta'cts, a movable switch membercomprising a pair ot annular rotatable contacts adapted tosuccessivelyengage and also leave the stationary contacts, and a pawlacting on one of the rotatable contacts so as to rotate both of themwhen the switch is operated.

4. In a switch, a pair of stationary contacts, a movableswitch membercomprising two annular rotatable contacts adapted to successively engageand successively leave the contacts, a spring between said annular scontacts,l and a -s ring engaging one of the' contacts and serving torotate the same when the switch is operated.

` 5. A switch comprising a casing, pair of stationary contacts in thecasing, a solenoid for closing the switch and comprisin a coil and acore,'a pair of annular.- rotata le oo ncompartment including twostationarygclolitacts on opposite sides' of the core, a maman auxiliarycontact carried bycontact `an the core and rot`atab1e about theaxisithereof, a sprin between the contacts whereby one .`may yielrelative to the other and vcause' them to successively engage andsuccessively 'leave the stationary contacts, 'a pawl in the form of aspring tongue/supported by the 'casin and having` a portion `engagingone same when theA switch .is operated@` *7. In a switch, apairfofjstationary conof-said rotatablehontacts so as to turn 'the stacts, a movable switch member comprising tacts carried by an extensionof the core, a'

any annular rotatable contact and an auxiliary contact locatedwithin-said rotatable contact, the contacts of said movable switchmember being adapted to successively engage and to successive y leavethe stationarycontacts, and mansfor imparting a rotary movement to saidannular contact at each actuation. thereof. c

I18. In a switch,- a pair of stationary contacts a movable switch membercom rising apalr of concentric annular rotatab e contacts adapted'tosuccessively engage and to successively leave the stationary contacts,and means for imparting a lrotary movement to said l 'annular contactsat each actuation thereof. i.

In/ testimony whereof, 4I hereunto ailix my signature.

BENNETT M@ LEECE.

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